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Romsey's vicar, Reverend Canon Tim Sledge told journalist Jon Manel two saints have been suggested - 'St Morwenna who was the first abbess here and St Ethelflaeda, who is our patron saint.'

While its owner can only be guessed at, the intriguing relic suggests the Anglo Saxons may have used exotic hair products. The hair (pictured) dates to between 895AD and 1123 AD and is covered in pine resin, which may have been used as an everyday hair treatment, or in funeral preparations, experts believe

Archaeological scientist, Jamie Cameron, was first fascinated with the bundle of hair as a child when he visited Romsey Abbey in Hampshire (pictured above)

SAXON HISTORY OF ROMSEY ABBEY

Romsey Abbey was founded by King Edward the Elder in 907AD for his daughter Princess Aelflaed who was a nun and became first Abbess of Romsey.

The abbey was re-founded in the late 10th century and a pious noblewoman named Merewenna, or Morewenna was made Abbess.

She was put in charge of the Queen's stepdaughter, Aethelflaed or Ethelflaeda, and they were later revered as saints.

The abbey was destroyed by the Viking invaders in a raid in 994AD, according to Britannia.

While the nuns managed to flee, they did not return to the abbey until around 1020 and the abbey was thriving just a decade later.

It was formerly dissolved in 1539.

In a bid to solve the mystery, Mr Cameron took a small sample of hair from the hair, which is protected behind a glass case in the church.

He then carried out tests upon it with scientists at the University of Oxford's 'Relic Cluster'.

Dr Thibaut Deviese who led the tests used a machine for gas chromatography mass spectrometry to analyse oily residue on the hair.

He discovered traces of pine resin on it, which may have been imported as a kind of luxurious hair product, similar to how argan oil is today.

Mr Cameron said: 'We can't tell whether that was something to do with the funerary ritual or hair care during life.'

Radio carbon dating confirmed the hair dates to between the years 895 and 1123 AD - probably between the window of 965 and 1045 AD.

Tests also revealed the person ate fish, because marine proteins were detected.

While this detail may seem irrelevant, it suggests the person belonged to the monastic community, where holy members mainly ate fish at the time.

In a bid to solve the mystery, Mr Cameron took a small sample of hair from the hair (pictured), which is protected behind a glass case in the church. He then carried out tests upon it with scientists at the University of Oxford's 'Relic Cluster'

Taking into account the new findings, Frank Green, archaeological adviser at the abbey thinks the hair may have belonged to St Elthelfaeda who is linked to the abbey (interior pictured above)

The position of the burial - which would have been against the abbesses' doorway strengthens the theory too.

Taking into account the new findings, Frank Green, archaeological adviser at the abbey thinks the hair may have belonged to St Elthelfaeda.

While there is currently no concrete proof, it may be possible to carry out DNA analysis in the future.

Dr Thibaut Deviese who led the tests used a machine for gas chromatography mass spectrometry to analyse oily residue on the hair. The strange relic is kept in the church